MetroMom Jennifer Spencer
Jennifer Spencer is a mother of two, inventor of the Take Along Tether and President of Parent Pardners, Inc.

MM - What drove you to invent the Take Along Tether?

My son!  He was constantly throwing/dropping his favorite stuffed animal and I was tired of picking it up off the floor, especially off dirty public floors.  Also, I was afraid we would lose this stuffed animal, so I decided to create a product I could use to keep all of my sons items from getting dropped and dirty or lost (think sippy cup, teether, etc). What I came up with, also worked really well to keep him close when we went to crowded places.  After he went missing in the mall, I decided I was fine with my “buddy system” creation!  He was only hiding in the clothing rounders (and he thought it was really funny), but I was panicked and may not be so lucky next time.  Now I have a product I can use for all his items when he is seated in a stroller, highchair, or any other child seating device AND in case we go somewhere crowded and I am afraid we will lose him or he will run off, I can use the same item to create a tether “buddy system” to keep him close and safe!  I had no intention of making a product to sell, I just wanted to make something to make my life easier.  After using mine for a while, I had several individuals come up to me and offer to buy it off of me.  That’s when I knew I needed to make this product available to other parents like me.

MM - What were the unexpected challenges you faced?

Where do I even begin?  When I tell other parents that I am an inventor, they almost always say, “I wish I could come up with a great idea and I could be rich!”  Well, the hardest part is not in coming up with the idea, but in pursuing the market to sell it. I have been getting positive feedback from parents and objective reviewers alike, but it is very difficult to market a “new” product. In addition, there are so many things to consider when marketing a product to the public, including protecting your idea, creating the marketing campaign, putting safety parameters in place and using our money wisely to keep our company healthy in an otherwise struggling economy.

MM - What is a typical day in your life?

Typical?  Ha!  Each day is different, but here it goes: wake up around 6am, get the kids up, fed, dressed and off to school.  After they are off, I return to my home office to check email and return phone calls, emails, process any orders that came in through our website overnight, and set sales appointments.   Once that is complete, I set out on my appointments and deliver any orders needed.  I try to fit in a workout sometime during the day, if possible, then it’s off to school to pick up my kids again.  After school we are usually off to either gymnastics, or Taekwondo, then we hit the store for groceries.  When we get home we usually either ride bikes and draw with chalk on the driveway with our neighbors or head off to the neighborhood park to burn off some steam before it’s time for dinner, bath, books & bed.  Once the kids are in bed I am back on my computer to do a bit more work and research new ways to market my product, or find new designer fabrics.  When I hit the pillow around 10:30-11pm, my mind in reeling about what I will get done the next day.  When I can’t sleep, I catch up on my DVR shows!

MM - How do you balance work and motherhood

I think any time you have a working mother in the family, they have to learn how to balance work time with family time.  When my kids are home, sometimes I will have them help me sort product pieces or they may even go with me to deliver orders, but mostly I try to complete all my work while they are in school.  When I pick them up, I try to give them undivided attention.  I enjoy getting to be the one to drop off my kids at school and pick them up, then take them to their afterschool activities.  They know all about my company and they are proud of me, but I try not to let that interfere with park time, time for play dates, and dinner together as a family.  I think it’s especially important for them to see that their mommy wears many “hats” and has different responsibilities in those different roles.   

MM - Do you have any tips for moms who want to become entrepreneurs?  

Yes!  Be honest with yourself and know that this isn’t really a part-time job.  This is the second company I’ve owned and I think I put in a lot more time (during the day, after the kids are in bed, before they wake up, etc) than I ever did when I worked for other people.  Also, be careful with how you obtain your working capital and on how you spend it.  There will be a lot of opportunities to advertise or promote your product/company, but be very selective in what you choose to participate in.  Cash flow is so very important in the outcome of your company.  There have been may wonderful concepts or ideas that never went anywhere because they ran out of money.  Do everything you can to barter for business or advertising.  Word-of-mouth advertising is the best form of advertising!

 MM - Do you have a motto you would like to share with other moms?

Work hard, play hard!